Internationally renowned Japanese architect Shigeru Ban is one of the biggest names on the roster of New Orleans' international art festival, Prospect.3. But his exhibit at Longue Vue House and Gardens is a non-starter. [...]

Unfortunately, whatever plans Ban had for presenting a structure or artwork at Prospect.3 must have fallen through, because the exhibit at Longue Vue is comprised of nothing more than a sleepy selection of miniature architectural models and photos.
— nola.com

The latest edition of Student Works: highlighted three different pop-up shops designed and built by some students at Tsinghua University in Beijing for their "Tectonic Studio". Constructed for under 2500 RMB (569 USD or 412 EUR), the program was to store and sell t-shirts. arllita felt they were... View full entry »

Architectural models can cost upward of $100,000, and sometimes far more. Architects use models to realize and improve upon their designs; developers rely on them during presentations, hoping the models will convince the relevant authorities to approve their plans. For brokers, models have become a key marketing tool, used to persuade buyers to shell out millions of dollars for homes that have yet to be built.
— NYT

Julie Satow profiles Richard Tenguerian who has spent the past three decades working for some of the world’s most famous architects. Even though he graduated in 1984 with a degree in architecture he eventually went into business for himself, as a professional model maker. View full entry »

A couple of years ago, I took a temp job assisting an architectural model builder. It was an intense experience - meticulously crafting delicate materials into structural works of art. I became fascinated with the craftsmanship and artistic ability that goes into this work. The advent of 3D printing - as exciting as it is - poses a problem for this art form. If a machine can spit out a 3D version of a building, is the era of model-making coming to an end?
— vimeo.com

Great architects build structures that can make us feel enclosed, liberated or suspended. They lead us through space, make us slow down, speed up or stop to contemplate. Great writers, in devising their literary structures, do exactly the same.

So what happens when we ask writers to try their hand at architecture?
— New York Times